We will be visiting Japan for the second time in September next year for two weeks. Last time we visited Tokyo, Kanazawa, Kyoto and then down to Ise-Shima (Amanemu). We loved the mix of city buzz and calmer stops such as Kanazawa and Amanemu.

For our next visit we’d like to travel a little further afield. Currently considering Tokyo > Fukuoka > Setouchi Aonagi > Kyoto > Tokyo.

Any thoughts on whether Setouchi Aonagi is worth a stop and visiting for one night? We’re big architecture fans. We’d fly in from Fukuoka and fly out to Osaka to travel on to Kyoto.

Also, any alternative suggestions to experience a Kanazawa-esque city, in place of Fukuoka / Setouchi Aonagi? We like charming towns/cities and less interested in hikes or nature trails. Happy to travel in any direction and work our way back to Tokyo. We also like to stay in luxury hotels.

I would have thought that a visit to Meiji Mura (by Inuyama close to Nagoya) would be high on the wish list for big architecture fans.

I think Takayama and Ginzan Onsen would fit the bill, but they are not close to the areas you mentioned for your second trip. So, maybe you can look these up and see if they're worth altering your plans for.

Thanks! I should have mentioned my partner is tattooed therefore Onsen's aren't an option unfortunately.

Good to know. Ginzan Onsen is the name of the town. I think there's a lot to enjoy even without an onsen.

By the way, if your partner can't go to public onsen, maybe something you can look into is onsen that you can reserve (called 貸切), meaning you get the whole thing to yourself. Also, since you're into luxury hotels, some have their own onsen in the room.

Is Setouchi Aonagi a resort near Matsuyama in Shikoku? I can't speak to that resort, but there's lots to see in the wider area. Matsuyama itself doesn't have the historic charm of Kanazawa or Takayama, but it's a fun city with some good dining. Most people in Matsuyama visit Dogo Onsen, where the major attraction is a historic onsen bath house (currently undergoing restoration). It would be worth checking if there are onsen hotels in the area that allow tattoos. Matsuyama also has several historic temples that are on the 88 temple pilgrimage route. Just to the south of Matsuyama is Tobe, a pottery town. Also to the south of Matsuyama are a couple of towns with cute historic quarters - Uchiko and Ozu. In Ozu, there's an upscale hotel (Nipponia) in the historic area, which also offers accommodation in the castle. Further along the railway line on the coast is Uwajima, another castle town with some regional dishes that are worth trying, including "Tai-meshi." (Sea-bream sashimi rice bowl).

You can take a ferry from Shikoku to Oita prefecture in Kyushu. You could do that if you're planning to visit Fukuoka. There are a lot of nice onsen resorts in Oita. I can't tell you much about that area, but it's getting less difficult in general to find places that welcome tattoos.

Some other historic towns in Western Japan include Kure and Onomichi in Hiroshima prefecture. Hagi, on the Japan sea coast of Yamaguchi prefecture. and Matsue in Shimane Prefecture (also on the Japan sea coast). They're mostly small towns. Matsue is a small-to-medium-sized city (about 200,000 people).

Naoshima Island with a night staying at the Benesse Art Site? We visited there at the request of my father in-law architect.